Combined lock and brace for boxes.



v PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. G. S. FRANCIS, F. O. KASTB 6: H. W. GROSS.

COMBINED LOCK AND BRAOB FOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1907.

iw/yzJflW/Zfl Win/5555; INVENTORY (/15, flaw A TTOR/VE VS UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

GEORGE S. FRANCIS, FRANK O. KASTE, AND HENRY W. GROSS, OF HAVRE, MONTANA.

COMBINED LOCK AND BRACE FOR BOXES.

Application filed June 22, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE S. FRANCIS, FRANK O. KASTE, and HENRY W. GRoss,

citizens of the United States, residing at Havre, in the county of Chouteau, State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Combined Lock and Brace for Boxes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined lock and brace for boxes and other receptacles.

The objects of the invention are to provide an article of the above character that shall be adapted for ready attachment to the body and cover of a box or other receptacle without requiring any change in their structural arrangement; that shall be thoroughly effective in bracing both ends of the body and the cover against warping or loosening; that shall practically relieve the hinges from strain, more particularly where the attachment is used on a cigar box that is generally handled by the lid in removing it from and replacing it in a case," that shall hold the lid at the proper angle to exhibit any advertising matter displayed on its inner side; and that shall be thoroughly effective in securing the lid to the body either in a temporary or positive manner.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a combined lock and brace for boxes and other receptacles, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure 1 is a view in perspective embodying a box and cover equipped with the attachment of the resent invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertica transverse section through a portion of the box and the cover. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the attachment. Fig. 4 is an elevation in the nature of a fragmentary detail displaying a slight modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, 1 designates the body of a box and 2 the cover or lid therefor. The box may be an ordinary cigar box, a tool chest or any other holder to which the invention may be applicable. As it is designed that the attachment herein illustrated shall be used on barn or house doors as well as on boxes, bins and the like, the terms support and closure are used generically herein, the former to include a door frame, or a box or other receptacle and the latter to include a door, or a box or bin lid.

The attachment comprises a two-armed brace 3, which is herein shown as approximately V-shape in form with a straight crest or bend 4, the terminals of the two arms being formed to constitute, attaching members, in this instance by bending them to form eyes 5 through which may be passed screws or nails 6 for securing them to the end walls of the support adjacent to its rear wall. The brace is preferably constructed of resilient wire, and operates to exert aninward draft upon the end walls, thus to prevent them from warping or yielding when being handled or subjected to rough usage.

Secured to the closure is a guide 7 which is constructed of a strip of metal, the terminals of which are formed into offsets 8 and 9, the offset 8 being secured at 10 to the outer edge of the closure and the offset 9 being secured at 11 to the inner face of the closure. In addition to subserving the function of attaching means, the offsets also operate to space the guide from the closure, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Mounted for free sliding movements upon the guide is a locking member comprising a body portion 12 and a hasp 13 disposed at right angles thereto and having its intermediate portion provided with an orifice 14 to engage with a stud or pin 15 on the front wall of the support, and its free end 16 outturned to permit it to spring over the pin. The locking member is by preference made of sheet metal, and the body portion is disposed between the guide and the closure, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided at the end opposite the hasp with a pair of spaced ears 17 that bear upon opposite sides of the guide and operate to direct the movements of the locking member on the guide. At the bend of the locking member, formed by the hasp, there is provided a transverse slot 18 through which the guide projects, and this slot, in conjunction with the ears 17, will operate not only to hold the locking member positively combined with the guide but will also cause it to have proper sliding movements relatively thereto. The ears 17 are engaged by the bend or crest 4 of the brace,

and this latter element is only slightly greater in length than the space between the outside faces of the ears, so that lost motion is practically obviated.

The form of hasp shown in Fig. 3 is one adapted for use where the attachment is employed upon a cigar box, as illustrated; but where the attachment is employed upon a chest lid, door or any other closure that it may be desired to lock, the hasp will be hinged to the body portion, as shown at 19 in Fig. 4, and in lieu of the pin 15 a staple 20 will be employed through which the shackle of. the padlock 21 will be passed.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that the offset 9 operates as a stop to limit the downward movement of the locking member on the guide, and by this arrangement the closure will always be held at the clear angle relatively to the body to insure proper exhibition of any advertising matter upon its inner face, and will also be held from any tendency to shut of its own accord, whereby it willalways be in proper position to be grasped for the purpose of removing the box from the case or placing it in position therein.

The attachment, as shown in Fig. 3, may be made in various sizes and be adapted for use upon heavy doors as well as light boxes, and as the former application will be readily understood detailed illustration thereof is omitted.

What is claimed is 1. An attachment of the class described comprising a brace having two arms the terminals of which are disconnected, a guide, and a member slidably mounted on the guide and connected with the brace.

2. An attachment of the class described comprisingan armed brace, a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and through which the brace extends.

3. An attachment of the class described comprising an armed brace, a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and having ears through which the brace extends.

4. An attachment of the class described comprising an armed brace, a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and having combined guides and ears through which the brace extends.

5. An attachment of the class described comprising a brace embodying two arms the terminals 01 which are disconnected and provided with attaching means, a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and connected with the brace.

6. An attachment of the class described comprising an armed brace having an intermediate bend and terminal attaching means disposed at right angles to the bend and a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and having ears through which the brace extends.

7. An attachment of the class described comprising an armed brace having terminal attaching eyes, a guide, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and having ears through which the brace extends.

8. An attachment of the class described comprising an armed brace having terminal attaching means, a guide having terminal offsets, and a locking member having ears through which the brace extends.

9. The combination with a support and a closure, of an armed brace pivotally connected with the support, a guide carried by the closure, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide with which the brace is pivotally connected.

10. The combination with a support and a closure, an armed brace pivotally connected with the support, a guide carried by the closure and provided with terminal offsets, and a locking member slidably mounted on the guide and with which the brace is pivotally connected.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. FRANCIS. FRANK O. KASTE. HENRY W. GROSS.

Witnesses:

F. D. MADILL, WM. LACY. 

